Works in progress and nurturing new knitters

At a recent Christmas party, I had the great joy of helping a grand niece learn to use her knitting machine.  It's an updated version of one I received when I was about her age. Hers has more capabilities than mine did. My only complaint is it came with eyelash yarn.  This young lady let me know what I knew but didn't voice. This yarn in not easy for a beginner to learn with.  My solution? To give her yarn that I know I won't be using for whatever reason.  My problem? I could not find it anywhere. I just knew it was in certain storage containers. It took me three weeks and a nasty bout of stomach flu to find it. It was exactly where I put it. I had consolidated most of my stash in the way that makes sense to me.

Unfortunately the finding of stash coincided with some really cold (definitely Arctic) weather and our heat was lost. The air intake and exhaust were blocked by ice. No way was I going to pack yarn in 30* temps in my basement.  Now we have heat back and a new problem. But I can pack the yarn in relative warmth.   She will be getting a nice big box of assorted yarns and colors.

My new issue? We had a leak that is threatening our bedroom ceiling. My task is to clean out all the things I can so we can move the furniture out to replace the ceiling.  I'm finding projects I forgot about, projects I started and put aside, projects for classes, charity afghans for warm up America.

I decided to make two lists.  One of each UFO and who it is for, when it was started, when it is needed by.  The other list is who is on the gift list and three ideas for each.  Where I can I will be matching up these two lists.  So far I have almost twenty UFO s.

I also have an opportunity to put each project in its own bag. This will make it easier to grab something on my way out the door or as I sit down and relax.  When the list is finished, I will post it.  This might be better for holding me accountable and get things finished.

Merry Christmas all

Merry Christmas to everyone.  

I hope that you all had as wonderful holiday as I did.  Both my sons and our we daughter-in-law spent the holidays with us.  We've enjoyed every minute so far.  Gifts were given and received but the best was having them here.

New Schedules for 2014

Here are the new classes for the first half of the year.  If there is something you would like to see and it isn't listed, let me know.  I will see what I can do to add that to the schedule.  If you know someone who might be interested in a class, please share the schedule with them.

Please note, Michaels now requires 2 students for a class to be held, with the exception of Wilton Cake Decorating. All classes are 2.5 hours long and are $25 each.  Exception to this is the Kid's Crochet classes, they are 1.5 hours and $15 each.  These are for kids 6 and older.  Great idea for the grandkids. 

Also classes make great gifts for someone who wants to learn a new skill or enhance a skill they already have.

All Classes are Mondays 6pm – 8:30pm

Crochet Beginner 1 – Skinny Scarf or Phone Cover

November 11  January 6       March 3        April 28         June 16

Crochet Beginner 2 – Pillow or Scarf

November 18     January 20     March 17    May 12     June 18

Crochet Advanced Beginner – Granny Square Scarf or Market Bag

December 2 February 3    March 31    May 27 (Tuesday after Memorial Day)

Crochet Advanced Beginner – Cloche or Scarf

December 9        February 17          April 14       June 9

Please see a store associate for details about any classes or sign up online at www.michaels.com under classes for this store 1127 Quentin Rd. Leb.

Yarn Nights are times for you to get a question answered about a stitch, yarn or pattern question that doesn’t require a full class.  You can also sit and stitch with me at this time

December 14   January 11   January 25   February 8   February 22   March 8   March 22   

April 5   April 19   May 3   May 17   June 14    June 21

Warm Up America Joining Parties are times to help join afghans blocks to help the homeless here in Lebanon with the donation of warm afghans.

November 17   January 12   January 26   February 9   February 23   March 9   March 23   April 6   May 4

  

All Classes are Wednesdays 6pm – 8:30pm

Crochet Advanced Beginner – Hooded Baby Blanket

November 13   January 8   March 5   April 30

Crochet Advanced Beginner – Granny Throw or Lace Wrap

1 Piece Granny November 20  1 Piece Granny January 22   Lace Wrap March 19   

1 Piece Granny May 14

  Crochet Intermediate – Tote Bag

December 4   February 5   April 2   May 28

Discover Time to Crochet Classes

Hairpin Lace December 11   Broomstick Lace February 19   Crochet Cables April 16

   Crocodile Stitch June 11

All Classes are Thursdays 6 – 8:30 pm

Knit Beginner 1 – Hat or Wristwarmers 

November 14   January 9   March 6   May 1    June 19

Knit Beginner 2 – Neckwarmer or Tassel Hat

November 21   January 23   March 20   May 15   June 20

Knit Advanced Beginner – Hat or Legwarmers  

December 5   February 6   April 3   May 29

Knit Advanced Beginner – Cable Scarf or Fingerless Gloves

December 12   February 20   April 17   June 12

All Classes are Fridays 6 – 8:30 pm

Knit Advanced Beginner – Baby Blanket/Booties or Baby Kimono

Kimono November 16  Blanket/Bootie January 10   Kimono March 7   Blanket/Bootie May 2

Knit Intermediate – Patchwork Blanket

November 22  January 24  March 21  May 16

Knit Intermediate – Fair Isle Cowl

December 6   February 7   April 4   May 30

Discover Time to Knit Classes   

I Cord December 13    Entrelac February 21   Sock Class April 18   Intarsia June 13

Discover Kids Classes

All Classes are Saturday mornings 9:30 – 11 am unless noted

Discover Kids Crochet 1 (Necklace and Bracelet) 

December 7 January 11  February 22  April 5

Discover Kids Crochet 2 (Zipper Pull)

December 14  January 25   March 8   April 19

Discover Kids Crochet 3 (Monsters)

December 15  February 8   March 22   May 3

 

Color Inspiration

What inspires you to choose the colors you do for your projects?

 I know what inspires me is usually first who am I making something for?  I'm usually not going to make something in neutrals for a person who loves bright, bold colors.  Under this will also come the question of how will it be used?  I don't do slippers in white since dirt tends to get ground into the soles.  I don't dress babies in really dark colors.

Second, my personal preferences.  I can't knit or crochet with colors I hate.  I can't knit or crochet with colors I can't see (black comes to mind at this stage of life).  I can usually bend my choices to the recipient's likes and dislikes.

Third, season of the year is a big part of my color selection.  In winter, I feel a need to work with blacks, grays, whites, blues of an icy nature and red.  

Lots of gray, white and cold blues here

In spring, I'm going to gravitate to spring colors of not only the pastels, but deep purple of crocus, deep greens and yellow-y greens of the leaves.  

The red maple has pinky purple leaves in the background and the tri color beech is pink

Here are the saturated colors of spring

Summer brings all colors of the rainbow in fruits and vegetables and flowers.  There are very few color pairings from this selection I don't like.  I'm even happy about the beige that reminds me of sand and I usually can't stand beige of any kind.  I will usually separate my palettes by what I consider beach-y, garden-y, floral, camping type colors and so on.  I don't mix my palettes either.

A favorite

In perpetual summertime

The gardens in this Mission are amazing

Flowers and weeds, like bushes and trees can have many color facets

This being autumn, I really gravitate to plummy purples, cranberry reds, pumpkin oranges, yellows of most vibrant hues, dark pine-y greens, dirty looking browns and the two colors of blue I associate with autumn, either the gray blue of wind clouds/rain clouds or the vibrant blue of an October sky.  I have been known to pair many of these colors together.  After all, if Mother Nature can, why can't I?

Autumn harvests and thanksgiving are 2 favorites of mine for color

I find this very inspirational

Holidays will also inspire me and summer brings a host of red, white and blue to my work.  I am a traditionalist with most of my other holiday hues as well.

So I ask again, what inspires your color choices?

What can I do with...?

I get questions from students and others about what can I do with my swatches etc.  To this end, I gathered from the internet a list of ideas for these.

Swatches aside (these should go into a journal of knit/crochet projects with the ball band pattern and a sheet of notes for the next time you want to make the project.  This is what the very organized knitter/crocheter does.  I'm not that organized.) granny squares and mitered squares can be used for many more things than just afghans.  Although this idea is a good one.

You can use a mid sized block for a dish cloth or hot pad, smaller ones make great coasters to protect furniture from drinks.  Fold one in half and you can use it for a cell phone cozy, tissue case, eye glass case and more.  Sachets from one or two  squares stuffed with either cotton balls dipped with a drop or two of essential oil or stuffed with dried flowers make nice gifts when you need a lot and are short on time.

Have 8 or 9 small to medium sized?  How about a "cushion" for the back of a wooden rocker or a seat cushion?  Double them with different colors on each side that coordinate and you have a reversible and possibly stuffed cushion.  Purses, totes, and backpacks are also good ideas.  Wallets can be fashioned from 6 squares.  Coin purses can be made from 2.

There are patterns for slippers from squares, You could join a few of smaller ones and make headbands, bookmarks or hat brims.  Have a bunch?  Ponchos are sort of still in style.  Baby cocoons are also popular rather than wrapping in blankets.

An update and a review

I have finished the cardigan for my level 2 Knit certification.  I mailed off all my swatches and other assignments.  I have gotten them back.  Pictures will be posted once I get better ones taken.  A heavy wool sweater is not something to be styled with shorts and 90* temps.  This was the way the first set was taken.  I look terrible.  The sweater looks terrible.  I was hot and itchy and miserable.  Now that the temps have cooled to a reasonable October range, I will get my husband to do better pictures.

I am now working on my level 2 certification for Crochet.  The final project will be for the nieces of my daughter in law.  They will be identical except for color.  It seems the twins are the same size almost and I only need one for turning in.  The girls are also much smaller than I.  It should go quicker.

And now for a review.  Over the years, I have purchased many needles and hooks.  I can attest to the fact that the anodized aluminum hooks and needles from Boye even withstand a house fire.  Don't try that at home.  However, my newest purchase was the Clover Takumi interchangeable bamboo knitting needles set.  

I have tried them out on several projects.  I know some good things about them.  I did an acrylic baby sweater for a new family on the size 10.5 with a medium cable length.  I have a cotton dishcloth going on a size 7 short cable.  The needle tips range in size from 3 to 13.  There are 5 cable lengths to choose from.  You can also connect some or all of them for some huge knitting.  According to the packaging, you can create up to 60 configurations.  The tips are tapered and are nice to use.  The smaller needles are not quite tapered enough for me but I can make do if I need the needles.  The joins are fabulous between the cable and needle tips.  The whole thing stays tight with only hand tightening.  They are incredibly light weight.  Being bamboo, the needle tips are sticky; the cables are not.  I would use these for slippery yarns like silk and the new Paton's Metallic so they don't slide off the needles.   The set comes in a nice case but it seems a bit big to me.  Perhaps I'm just being picky though.  There is a place for all the cables to fit and a few extra small tools of your choosing.

I didn't pay the retail price for them.  I had a coupon for that purchase, which brought it down to affordable to me.  Would I buy them again?  Yes, the smooth joins and flexible cables make them a joy to use. 

If you like circular knitting needles, try some of the non interchangeable needles from their company.  If you like those, treat yourself to a set or ask Santa.  You won't be disappointed.

Stress and Crocheting or Knitting

Something interesting came across my email this morning.  I subscribe to The Simple Dollar daily newsletter from  www.thesimpledollar.com and have for many years when I was attempting to find ways to cut our budget so we could do more things we enjoyed.  In reading today's offering, this was in the middle with the questions.

Q2: Handling work stress
Whenever I feel stressed out by work, I seem to unconsciously fall back into “retail therapy” as a treatment. The only problem is that it usually adds to the stress because now I have a credit card to deal with.
- Angie

The solution, of course, is to find a different way to deal with your stress.  The effective stress-reducer depends heavily on the person. For me, playing a game or reading a book reduces my stress, as does spending time with friends and alone with my wife. Escapism and human relationships work for me.  Try different channels for reducing stress. If you feel stressed out, try going to the gym and punching a bag or running.  You've just got to find what clicks for you.

It's been proven that the rhythm of crocheting and knitting will reduce stress levels.  Reducing stress is a good thing.  Keeping small projects with you in various rooms of the house, in the car, your purse, in your desk are all great ways to take the edge off when life hands you more than you can handle.

Learning the basics can be stressful at first for some.  Once you have them down though, the repetitive nature of forming the stitches can be like a rocking chair for small children or a boat on the waves lulling you into calmness without the motion sick factor.